Method of making concrete pipe



Jan. 31, 1933. B. J. UKRQPINA 1,89 7

' METHOD OF MAKING CONCRETE PIPE Origifial Filed July 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l :FTQ- .1.

INVENTOR.

UKROPINFI.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 31,- 1933. J. UKI QOPINAY 1,895,740

METHOD OF MAKING CONCRETE PIPE Original Filed July 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. E

INVENTOR.

B. J. UnRoPnvn.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 31, 1933. B. J. UKROPINA METHOD 0E MAKING CONCRETE PIPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 13. t1 UKRoH/vn.

Opiginal Filed July 6, 1931 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 31, 1933. a. J. UKROPINA METHOD OF MAKING CONCRETE PIPE Original Filed July 6; 1931 4 Shets-Sheet 4- INVENTOR. B. J UKROP/NH.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES BOZIDAB I. UKROPINA, 0! LOS ANGELES, cnmoam METHOD 0] KING CONCRETE PIPE Original application med July 8, 1981, Serial lie. 549,989. Divided and thin application filed July 11, 1998- Serial No. 621,888.

This invention relates to a method of making concrete pipe.

he general object of the invention is to provide a novel method for the economical manufacture of concrete pipe.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an improved method of makin concrete pipe wherein the ingredients are %rst compacted mechanically and are thereafter spun to complete the pipe.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation showing an apparatus adapted to my method.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View, partly in elevation, showing the former head.

Fig. 3is a fragmentary central sectional view partly in elevation, showing the former head and the end of a formed pipe.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2. i

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 549,969 filed July 6, 1931.

My invention as set forth in the accompanying specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes the method of making concrete pipe by the continuous agitation, placing and packing of the concrete within the mold without centrifugal action after which the mold is spun at high speed thus extracting the surplus water with a minimum segregation of concrete materials.

By my method whereby the concrete is placed mechanically without the use of centrifugal action segregation of the materials constituting the concrete mixture is prevented. I will now proceed to describe one apparatus by which my method may be practiced. The mold is relatively slowly rotated in one direction while the concrete is mechanically impelled against the mold by movement in a direction opposite to that of the mold. This method in efiect gives a double packing action which shortens the time of manufacture and which in addition lines the mold with concrete .wherein the aggregates remain evenly distributed.

In making concrete mixture in a mold whic 1s rotating at igh speeds the heavier aggfi'egatfisl iiilitrlneiliialtizlay y w 1 e e 1g r ence characters I have indicated my improved concrete pipe making machine generally at 10. As shown the device 10 comprises a base frame 12 which' may be suitably mounted. On the base frame 12 I provide a rotary table 14 which includes a supporting member 15 secured to the base frame 12, and a rotary member 16. The supporting member 15 and the rotary member 16 both include a preferably cylindrical central aperture 17 and are provided with runways 18 in which antifriction bearing members 19 are positioned on which the rotary member 16 is adapted to rotate.

Adjacent the upper end of the aperture 1.7

lpipe by placin I the in the rotary member 16 I provide a rabbeted recess 20 and on the outer portion of the rotary member I provide an annular bevel gear toothed rack 21.

For rotating the member 16 I provide a bevel pinion gear 22 which meshes with the gear toothed rack 21 and is secured to a shaft 23. The shaft 23 is journaled in a bearing24 and is driven at any desired speed by an elecher 16 will be rotated at the desire rotary member 16 by a plurality of bolts 28.

The mold ring 27 includes a base 29 having a central aperture 30 therein and has a downwardly extending flange 31 which is positioned in the recess 20 of the rotary member 16. The mold ring 27 further includes an uppositioned on the mold ring wardly extending flange 32, the upper inner portion of which is beveled as at 33 to facilitate the centering of a mold.

A concrete pipe mold 35 is adapted to be 27. As shown the mold 35 includes a split shell 36 which may be secured together by a plurality of bolts and nuts and includes an end ring 38. Various types of end rings may be used to form the spigot end of a pipe. The mold furtherincludes a retaining ring 39 which forms the bell end of a pipe and which is removably secured to the shell 36 adjacent the upper end thereof by a plurality of bolts 39'. Adjacent the upper end of the mold 35 I provide a hearing ring 39" on the outer periphery of the shell 36. Suitable means may be provided for retaining the mold 35 in engagement with the mold ring 27.

For retaining the upper end of the mold 35 in correct alignment I'provide rollers 53 which are shown as rotatably supported by bearings 55 secured to a frame 56 which is anchored to posts 58 which are secured to the-frame 12. The rollers 53 are adapted to engage the bearing ring 39" on the mold 35. Extending transversely of the frame 12 on each side of the rotary table I provide rails 66 each of which are supported by standards 67 secured to the frame 12. A car 69 is positioned on the rails. This car 69 is adapted to convey 'empty molds 35 to the device and convey molds having a finished pipe therein away from the device.

For distributing and packing the concrete from which apipe is made I may provide a former headwhich I have indicated generally at 70 and shown in detail in Fig.- 2. As shown the former head 7 0 comprises a water head 72, a trowel head 73 and a distributor head 74. .The water head 72 is secured to .a vertical shaft 75 and the trowel head 7 3' is spaced above the water head and also secured to the shaft 75 while the distributor head 74 is secured to a sleeve 76 which surrounds the shaft 75.

Theiupper end of the shaft 75 is journaled in an anti-friction bearing 77 which is supported by a cross arm 78 secured to a frame 80. Secured to the shaft 75 above the bearing 77 I provide an enlarged collar 81 which rests on the inner raceway of the anti-friction bearing and supports the shaft 75.

The upper end of the sleeve 76 is journaled in an anti-friction bearing 82 which is supported by a cross arm 83 suitably seoured to the frame 80. Secured to the sleeve 76 above the bearing 82 I provide an enlarged collar 84 which rests on the inner raceway of the anti-friction bearing 82 and supports the sleeve 76.

Positioned on the shaft 75 abovethe collar 81 I provide a gear 85 which meshes with a gear 86 secured to a shaft 87. The shaft 87 is journaled in an anti-friction bearing 88 which is supported by a cross arm 89 suitably secured to the frame 80. Secured to the shaft 87 above the bearing 88 I provide an enlarged collar 90 which rests on the inner raceway of the bearing 88 and supports the shaft 87 The gear 85 is adapted to be operably connected to the shaft 75 by a hydraulic clutch mechanism 85' which may be of any desired construction.

Positioned on the sleeve 76 above the collar 84 I provide a gear 91 which meshes with a gear 92 secured to the shaft 87 For rotating the shaft 87 I secure thereto above the gear 86 a rope belt pulley 93 which is adapted to be driven by a rope belt 94 from a similar pulley 95 secured to the armature shaft of a suitable variable speed electric motor 96 which is mounted on the frame 80.

The gear 91 is adapted to be operably connected to the sleeve 76 by a hydraulic clutch mechanism 91' which may be of any desired construction.

Surrounding the shaft 75 to control the speed thereof above the gear 85 I provide a fluid brake mechanism 97 which may be of any desired construction and which is secured to a bracket 98. 7

To control the speed of the sleeve 76 I surround the sleeve 76 below the bearing 82 with a fluid brake mechanism 99 which like the brake mechanism 97 may be'of any desired construction. 1

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the motor 96 is operated it will rotate the shaft 87 through the medium of the pulleys 95 and 93 and thebelt 94. When the shaft 87 is thus rotated it will rotate the gears 86 and 92 which in turn through the medium of the clutches 85' and 91, rotate the gears 85 and 91. As the gear is rotated it rotates the shaft 75 which in turn rotates the water head 72"and the trowel head 73 and when the gear 91 is rotated it rotates the sleeve 76 which in turn rot-ates the distributor head 74. Suitable controls may be provided for controlling the speed of the motor 96 and the gear ratios for driving the shaft The frame 80 has a plurality of bearings in which the vertical posts 58 are positioned.

Mounted on thebearings' 24 I provide a cylinder 102 in which a piston 103 is positioned having a piston rod 104 secured thereto. The upper end of the piston rod 104 engages a cross arm 105 on the frame 80. Adjacent the lower end of the cylinder I provide a supply pipe 106 which extends from a suitable source of pressure fluid (-not shown) and the pipe 10.6 is provided with a suitable valve as indicated at 107. The cylinder 102 is further provided with an exhapst pipe 108 having interposed therein a control valve 109. When compressed air is used as the medium for moving the piston 103 the exhaust from the pipe 108 may pass directly to the atmosphere and when oil under pressure is used as the medium for moving the piston 103 the pipe 108 may direct the exhaust from the cylinder to a suitable reservoir.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when a fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder 102 the fluid will move the piston 103 and the piston rod 104 upward whereupon the piston rod 104 will move the frame 80 upward. The distance the frame 80 is moved upward is such that the entire former head will be moved upward to clear the top of the mold form 35.

The water head 72 comprises an annular hollow drum 110 having a central hub 112 in which the shaft 7 5 is positioned and secured thereto by a key 113. The drum 110 is provided with a plurality of apertures 114 in the bottom wall thereof and with a pair of apertures 115 in opposed side walls and adjacent each of the apertures 115 I provide a scraper member 116.

The scraper members 116 are shown as positioned in the drum 110 between the top and bottom walls thereof and each include spaced top and bottom members 117 which are connected by a hub 118 and are secured to a pin 119. The lower end of the pin 119 is pivotally mounted in an aperture 120 in the bottom of the drum and the upper portion of the pin extends through an aperture 121 in the upper wall of the drum and is threaded as indicated at 122 and provided with a reduced Wrench engaging portion 123. To retain the scraper in an adjusted position I provide a lock nut 124- Which engages the threaded portion 122 of the pin 119.

Mounted on the hub 118 I provide a blade 125 which is removably secured to the hub 118 by a plurality of screws 126. In an inoperative position of the scraper 116 the blade 125 is adapted to be positioned within the confines of the outer side wall of the drum as shown at A and in an operative position of the scraper the blade 125 is adapted to extend and be secured beyond the outside wall of the drum as shown at B.

Mounted on the shaft below the drum .72 I provide a finishing member 128. As

shown the finishing member 128 includes a The ring 129 is supported by a s ider 132 which includes a central hub 133 avin a plurality of arms 134 radially extending therefrom. The hub 133 of the spider is secured to the shaft 75 by the ke 113 and a collar 135 which is secured to t e shaft 75 by bolts 136. 7

At the outer ends of the arms 134 reduced pin portions 137 .are provided which are positioned in apertures 138 in the ring 129. On the ring 129 and spaced on each side of the gap I provide an arm 139. The ring 129 is slackly anchored to the spider 132 by a pin 140 which is carried by one of the spider arms 134 which is positioned in elongated apertures 142 in arms 143 on the ring 129.

For expanding the ring 129 I provide a cam mem er 150 which is secured to a shaft or stem 152. The stem extends upward of the drum 110 and through an aperture 154 in the top wall of the drum 110. The upper portion of the stem 152 is provided with a wrench engaging portion 155 and a threaded portion 156 on which a nut 157 is ositioned for locking the stem in an adjuste position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the stem 152 is rotated to cause the cam 150 to rotate, the rin 129 will be expanded and will move outwar ly thereby causing the free ends of the rin 129 to be further spaced apart as shown in ig. 10. When the stem 152 is rotated in a reverse direction the ring will move inwardly thereby causing the free ends of the ring to move toward each other.

The trowel head 73 comprises an annular plate 158 having a peripheral downwardly extending flange 159 and a central hub 160 in which the shaft 75 is positioned and secured thereto by the key 161. The hub 160 extends below the bottom of. the flange 159 andengages the top of the drum 110 thereby spacing the trowel head 73 from the water head 72. Mounted on the outer periphery of the flange 159 I provide a hardened steel band 162 which may be secured to the flange 159 as by shrinking it thereon or by welding.

Adjacent opposed sides of the plate 158 and projecting upwardly therefrom I provide a pair of lugs 163 on each of which I mount a trowel member 165. As shown each of the trowel members 165 include a securing portion 166 having a working portion 167 arranged at approximately right angles thereto. The working portion 167 is adapted to be arranged in a position approximately corresponding to the outer periphery of the trowel head and the portion 166 is provided with a slot 168 in which a bolt is positioned for adjustably securing the trowel member to the lug 163.

. Mounted on the plate 158 of the trowel head 73 adjacent opposed sides thereof I Erothe trowel head. Secured to the blade holder 171 as bybolts 173 I provide a cutting blade 174 which is suitably shaped as at 175 to cut the desired recess. The upper portion of the stud 172 is threaded as at 176 and rovided with a lock nut 177 which when the lade 174 is in a retracted position is adapted to be tightened down on the blade holder 9 171 to prevent centrifugal action from swinging the blade outward. When the blade 174 is in an extended position it is adapted toengage a stop pin 178 provided on the plate 158 and the nut 172 may be tightened down on the blade to prevent it from accidentally becoming retracted. The stop pin 178 is shown as adapted to be positioned in various apertures 179 in the plate 158 so that the blade 174 may be firmly retained in various adjusted positions.

The distributor head comprises a central hub 180 in which the sleeve 76 is positioned and secured thereto by a key 181 and the hub 180 rests on a collar 182 secured to the sleeve 76.- Extending outwardly from each end 1 of the hub 180 I provide two sets of opposed arms 183 and 184.

Adjacent the outer ends of the arms 183 I provide distributors 185 each of which includes a hub 186 having a plurality of oposed arms 187 extending therefrom. The iiubs 186 are rotatably mounted on spindles 188 carried by the arms 183. The arms 187 each include an intermediate portion 189 which is spaced from the hub 186 and top and bottom portions 190 which are disposed at an angle and connect the intermediate portions 189 to the hub.

-Adjacent the outer ends of the arms 184 I provide distributing and packing members 192, each of which includes a hub 193 having spiral fins 194 thereon similar to the teeth of a worm pinion to strike and impel the concrete mixture outwardly and downwardly. The members 192 are each rotatably mounted on pins 195 carried by the arms 184. The arms 184 are so shaped as to be somewhat stream lined so that turning resistance is lessened. I

Surrounding the sleeve 76 above the distributor head- 74 I provide a hollow cone shaped member 196 which includes legs 197 which engage the upper arms 183 and 184 of the distributor head 74 and are secured thereto by bolts 198. The base of the cone member 196 isof a diameter approximately of a size to correspond to the length of the arms 183 and 184, and in the inclined wall of the cone member I provide a plurality of elongated apertures or slots 199. The cone regents bridging of the concrete above the ea In making concrete by m improved method the frame 80 is move upward by the piston rod 104 as previously described and the mold form is positioned on and secured to the mold ring 27 by the latch members as previously described.v The frame 80 is then lowered so that the former head is positioned in the mold form with thetops of the trowelling members 165 below or approximately flush with what is to be the lower end of the pipe.

After the former head has been lowered the motor 25 is started to revolve the rotary member 16 and the mold form 35 at a low speed and the clutches 85' and 91' are set so that the gears 85 and 91 will drive the shaft and the sleeve 76 and the motor 96 is started to revolve the former head 70. When the various parts are thus revolving the mold form 35 travels in an opposite direction to that of the former head 70 and at a greater rate of speed than the water drum 72 and the trowel head 73 while the distributing head 74 travels at a faster rate of speed than the mold form 35.

When the device 10 is thus operating the concrete mixture is poured into the mold form 35. As the concrete mixture falls onto the cone member it moves outwardly to y wards the walls of the mold form and downwardly into engagement with the members 185 and 193 and into engagement with the mold shell 36. As the concrete moves downwardly along the face of the cone member 1.96 and the edges of the slots 199 in the cone member strike the larger aggregates which tends to settle and mix them with the rest of the concrete. Any concrete which falls through the slots 199 will be thrown outward by impact with the, arms 183 and 184 into enga ement with the mold shell 38.

s the concrete is thrown into engagement with the mold shell it builds up against the shell and the impingement of the concrete against the members 185 and 192 causes the members 185 and 192 to rotate individually with the mold while their axes rotate with the packer head and the arms 187 thereon pack the concrete against the inside of the mold shell 36 and tightly compact it thereon. As the concrete is packed by the arms 187 and fins 194 of the members 185 and 192 the intermediate arm portions 189 push the concrete horizontally while the upper and lower inclined portions 190 and the fins 194 impel the concrete at an angle which will force the concrete behind any reinforcing members which may be in the pipe and will thereby fill any spaces not filled by the horizontal packing action. The trowels 165 smooth the concrete as the rotate and advance.

The. former head 70 continues to move upfunction as described until the mold shell 36 is entirely lined with concrete. The motor 96-is then stopped and the scraper members 116 on the water head 72 are adjusted to a position wherein the ends of the blades 125 are extended to a position corres onding to the desired interior diameter 0 the plpe. Meanwhile the motor 25 is s eeded up to rotate the mold at a high rate 0 speed to cmtrifugally pack the pipe.

After the pipe has been centrifugally packed the brakes 97 and 99 are set to prevent rotation of the former head 7 O and then the former head is again lowered.

After the pipe is partially packed mechanically it will be smaller than the desired size. After packing centrifugally it will be larger than the forming head and water and slurry will accumulate on inner pipe surface.

As the water head 72 travels downward the scraper blades 125 engage the inner surface of the concrete in the mold and scrape the slurry or water and slime from the inner surface of the concrete. As the blades 125 scrape the slurry off it is directed by the blades through the apertures 115 into the drum 110 and then it flows out through the apertures 114 in the bottom wall of the drum. After the water head 72 has been lowered to the bottom of the mold it is again raised out of the mold.

The former head is again raised before or after the blades 125 are retracted and after the former head is raised and the finished ring 129 is expanded to the size of the interior diameter of the pipe. As the mold continues to rotate the former head is again lowered to the bottom of the mold and as it travels downward the ring 129 removes slight protuberances or corrugations which may be on the interior of the pipe. The former head 7 0 is then again raised out of the mold and the ring 129 is moved to a retracted position.

After completion of the last operation, the

motor 25 is stopped while the retaining ring g 39 on the upper end of the mold shell is removed and replaced by a straight retaining ring 200 as shown in Fig; 14. The former head 10 is then lowered until-the forming members 17 0 are in the correct position whereupon the blades 17 4 are turned to cutting position. The motor 25 is then started slowly to rotate the mold 35 and as the mold rotates the blades 174 of the forming members out a calking recess adjacent the upper end of the pipe as indicated at 202 in Fig. 14.

After the calking recess 202 has been formed the forming members 170 are moved to a retracted position and then the former head is moved to a position above the mold, the latch members 40 moved to a release position and the mold form 35 removed from the mold ring 27. The pipe and mold may then betaken from the device and cured as desired.

- In making reinforced concrete pipe a suitable metal reinforcing cage such as indicated" at 203 is positioned in the mold 35 before the concrete is poured therein, and thereafter the pipe is formed as previously described.

In some instances it is desirable to rotate I From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have invented a novel method for makirg concrete pipe which method is highly e clent and economical.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1.- The method ofmaking concrete pipe, comprising taking a mold and placing a reinforcement therein, placing concrete about the reinforcement in said mold, first mechanically forcing the concrete against the mold to compact the same and thereafter spinning the mold.

2. The method of making comprising taking a mold, mserting a mo1stened mixture of Portland cement and aggregate in the mold, mechanically impelling the mixture against the mold to compact the a concrete pipe mixture without segregation of ingredients and thereafter spinning the mold and the tamped concrete to drive the water therefrom Without substantial displacement of aggregates.

3. The method of making a concrete pipe comprising inserting a moistened mixture of cement and aggregate in a mold, impelling the mixture radially progressively and thereafter removing the moisture centrifugally without substantial displacement of aggreates.

4. The method of making a concrete pipe, comprising spinning amold impelling concrete into the mold to form a tube w1th an interior diameter less than that of the finished against the inner surface of a cylindrical mold, spinning said mold to cause the mois- 6 Leanne ture to pass to the interior of theconcrete removing the moisture from the interior of the pipe, and thereafter removing a ortion atone end of said molded pipe to cm a bell mouth.

, 7. The method of making a concrete pipe comprising impelling a mixture of concrete against the inner surface of a mold whichis rotating and thereafter trowelling the in- 1 terior of the formed pipe, then spinning the pipe to compact it, then removin the water from the interior of the ipe an smoothing the pipe and finally forming a bell end in the pipe'b removing a portion of the concrete. {Q 8. T e metho of making a concrete pipe comprising impell'ing a mixture of concrete against the inner surface of a mold which is rotating and thereafter while the mold continues to operate first trowelling the interior $2 of the formed pi c, then spinning the pipe to compact it and t en removing the water from the interior of the pipe. In-testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature. BOZIDAR JJUKROPINA. 

